...Human beings' partnership with dogs has been thought to have originated approximately 14,000 years ago, based on fossilized remains. Recently, a sophisticated genetic analysis of 27 different populations of wolves and dogs from 67 breeds has shown that the origin of dogs is very old - perhaps 100,000 years. Researchers used analyses of mitochondrial DNA to determined that dogs are really gray wolves. They also determined that dog-ancestor-wolves originated between 60,000 and 135,000 years ago and evolved through a combination of human selective breeding and repeated crossings with wild wolves. Using the mitochondrial evidence, the researchers concluded that Coyote and other Canis species apparently have not contributed to the evolution of domesticate. The physical evidence of fossilized human and canine remains has suggested that dogs (Canis familiaris), first appeared about 14,000 years ago (Patterson, 1978), (Coren, 1994), (Bursch, 1998). Wayne and his colleagues hypothesized that dogs were really wolves (Canis lupus) in disguise. To test their theory, they collected tissue samples from 162 wolves from Europe, North America, Asia and Arabia, as well as from 140 dogs from 67 "pure breeds and 5 mixed breeds and analyzed the samples for molecular evidence of convergence or divergence (Wayne, et al. 1997). Mitochondria, and hence their DNA, are inherited through maternal ancestors. The researchers at UCLA studied the regular clock-like evolution of a particular area of...
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...Why Humans Should Not Feed Their Dogs Human Food American obesity is not only a problem for humans but also for dogs. Families have trouble denying table scraps to their best friend, especially when they are in the habit of doing it. Feeding a dog table scraps can not only quickly lead to obesity and behavioral issues, but it can also impair the dog's health depending on the types of food given to the pet. Even though there are a number of foods safe for dogs to consume, there are even more human foods that can negatively affect a hound's health. Most families do not do enough research on what foods are unsafe for a dog to eat. Americans love their canines and want to reward them with table scraps, but although it may seem...
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...English 111.0016 8 September 2015 Dogs, human-like characteristics Dogs are cute, loving and playful just like little children. They seek attention and require lots of love and patience. They are like little time clocks, they know just when to wait by the door for their owner for a hug or to go potty. They are very territorial and sometimes over-protective. Dogs, like humans, exhibit emotions, often suffer from similar medical conditions or ailments and love unconditionally. One major characteristic of dogs’ human like behavior is that they exhibit emotions. For example, Barkley is a huge Bernese mountain dog. He weighs 140 pounds but is afraid of anything that walks. Although he loves the outdoors, he spends most of the summer indoors because of the heat and because he is terrified of thunderstorms. He literally cries and trembles during a storm. His owner has to reassure him that it is going to be okay. If they are watching television then Barkley is there by her foot only because he is too big for her to hold. He also sleeps in the same bedroom as his owner. Duncan is a very friendly Beagle who is also terrified of storms. His fear is so severe that his owner has to medicate him during a severe thunderstorm. Duncan is a mommy’s dog and always wants his way. He throws a fit if he is unable to ride in the front seat when they go on trips. Duncan throws tantrums often. Believe it or not, Maria Rosa is the smallest and the meanest of all the dogs. Maria Rosa is a cute but bad...
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...Humans Need Animals A life without animals would be hard. Having animals in our lives can change people internally by bringing companionship to us everyday. Every new experience can make a person change; sometimes the change is positive, and others times it is negative. Either way, there is no avoiding change. Animals are caring, helpful, and can be humanlike. The autobiography, Dogs Make Us Human, by Temple Grandin, is a story about an incredible dog, “named Max who had trained himself to monitor his mistress’s blood sugar levels even while she was asleep (Grandin, pg 154, pp 2).” The lady who owned him was a severe diabetic. When her blood sugar levels dropped too low during the night Max would bug her husband until he got up and took care of her. He changed her life by keeping her alive. Max helped her a lot with her diabetic issues. In the biography, Hampshire School for Wayward Wizards, by Temple Grandin, the horses helped an autistic girl. She could see things about animals that others could not. Having autism made her school and social life hard. “Horses, like autistic people, are very...
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...Dogs’ senses are quite a bit different than humans- in an interesting way. Nevertheless, what most know is that dogs have a sense of smell that is far more superior to humans’, but not all know how much better. An average dachshund will have about 125 million scent receptors alone, far beyond a human’s 5 million (Coren 1). However, though canine noses are so impressive, canine mouths are not. Dogs, on average, have about 1,700 taste buds compared to those of a human, which is about 9,000 (Compton). Seeing that dogs don’t rely heavily on taste, some dog owners think dogs will eat any food they’re given- but is this true? However, though the taste may not matter as much, other factors such as smell and texture matter quite a bit. Although mainly the smell of the food matters most above all other factors. Dogs have a special nose, far more complex than a human’s. A fascinating part is the extra organ in their nose called the Vomeranasal Organ or Jacobsen’s (“Dog”). Jacobsen’s Organ works as a combination of smell and taste, effectively allowing dogs to, quite literally, taste the air. Jacobsen’s organ rests in the bottom of the nasal passage, picking up pheromones (Tyson). Pheromones are chemicals that animals advertise to signal mating readiness and other sex-related things...
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...The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)[2][3] is a subspecies of the gray wolf (Canis lupus), a member of the Canidae family of the mammalian order Carnivora. The term "domestic dog" is generally used for both domesticated and feral varieties. The dog was the first domesticated animal[4] and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and pet animal in human history. The word "dog" can also refer to the male of a canine species,[5] as opposed to the word "bitch" which refers to the female of the species. MtDNA evidence shows an evolutionary split between the modern dog's lineage and the modern wolf's lineage around 100,000 years ago but, as of 2013, the oldest fossil specimens genetically linked to the modern dog's lineage date to approximately 33,000–36,000 years ago.[4][6] Dogs' value to early human hunter-gatherers led to them quickly becoming ubiquitous across world cultures. Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and, more recently, aiding handicapped individuals. This impact on human society has given them the nickname "man's best friend" in the Western world. In some cultures, however, dogs are also a source of meat.[7][8] In 2001, there were estimated to be 400 million dogs in the world.[9] Most breeds of dogs are at most a few hundred years old, having been artificially selected for particular morphologies and behaviors by people for specific functional roles. Through...
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...on the culture, art, and lore of human society since before historical times. The wolf is one of the most misunderstood animals in all of history. Theirs is a proud, yet sad, history. The wolf and dog are different species but yet have so much in common. Dogs were originally classified as “Canis familiaris”, in 1758. However, in 1993, dogs were reclassified as a subspecies of the gray wolf and renamed “canis lupus familiaris.”While it is true that there have been speculations that dogs may have descended from several species of canines, the wolf appears to ultimately be the ancestor of man’s best friend. The dog and wolf both share the same number of chromosomes (78, arranged in 39 pairs).The dog and the wolf can mate and give life to offspring. There are good chances indeed, that in the past the two species may have interbred, whether because of feral dogs may have escaped from being domesticated or because some wolves may have separated from their pack and started looking for a soul mate. At the same time, the outward appearance of wolves and dogs is markedly different. The wolf’s skeleton is higher and has a more arched spine. The wolf’s legs are heavier in build and are usually longer. Dogs and wolves run differently. A dog runs with a loping, almost casual gait, while wolves run in a springing motion with force from the hind legs propelling them forward. One main difference between the wolf and the dog is the mating; a dog can come into heat twice a year while...
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...think that carrots and brown rice are healthy eating habits here in the United States. However there are some places in the world including the US where toasted insects, roasted cat and dogs, and even raw monkey brains are a delicacy. Whether you yourself would eat these types of food or not, we know that humans have been consuming cats dogs and yes even monkeys for decades. But my question is why did they find the need to eat these types of meats? Were beef, chicken, fish and pork not enough? Or maybe we’re the ones who don’t know what delicacy eating really is. Maybe we shouldn’t have such a closed mind to eating cats and dogs. Maybe by the end of this week I will be one that becomes an Entomophily. The Holy Bible goes into great details on what we can and cannot eat. The dietary laws prohibit eating pork, shrimp, and shellfish of any kind, most insects, scavenger birds, and various types of other animals. (Leviticus chapter 11) Although the Bible doesn’t say anything about the domestic animals such as cats and dogs but many religions consider the consumption of these animals to be taboo. In some parts of the word others have resorted to eating felines and k-9’s in desperation during hard times and poverty, and others believe that eating them will bring good luck or good health. Cats and Dogs In North China eating cats is considered to be a taboo, in these parts cats are seen as having a soul so for this reason they don’t consume them here. However in southern China cat...
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...Donna Haraway’s “The Companion Species Manifesto: Dogs, People, and Significant Otherness”, I found the paper very intriguing to read. Being an animal lover myself, I can understand from where Haraway was coming from in this paper. The fact that she decided to use “companion species” instead of just the simple “pet” term signified so much, especially since she focused this paper mostly on one of my favorite animals, dogs. By attempting to explore the unique connection and history between the different species that is dogs and humans. With that being said one of the goals she wanted to achieve in her study was break down the core bond that we have with dogs; our ideas, mutuality, and our use of primal urge with them. This brings up certain questions such as why we keep animals as pets and why it is important to study how they have evolved and grown with us over time....
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...how beneficial is the relationship between animals and people? How similar are animals in comparison to other people? Should pet owners dress their pets similarly to how they dress? How would someone handle their pet's welfare in the event of their death? If these questions were put to pet owners, there would likely be a myriad of responses given, but all of them would probably agree on one thing: having an animal for a companion would enhance the quality of living for both the human owner and their loving quadruped companion. How Beneficial is The Relationship Between Animals and People? Ask anyone who owns a dog or a cat, and they would tell you many times over about the benefits of having their furry friend(s) around the house. Some would even go on to argue that most of the time, these creatures are almost human. Author Kathleen Kete asserts that children, like pets, demand attention, food and sometimes clothing; in return, it was promised that they remain faithful to the grave (Kete, 1994). Dogs are commonly found to be fitting of such description as they are seen to have lived in eternal childhood (Kete, 1994). Such a parallel between ownership of pets and raising children would likely point many individuals to the conclusion that a pet is...
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...That’s why the government should decree laws at federal level that protect animals against mistreatment, grant them safety, dignity and a rightful treatment. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), there are 3 million dogs in Estado de Mexico; 1 dog per 5 people. The terrifying data comes from the Adoption Center and Animal Rescue AC: there’s an estimate that 7 out of 10 dogs are victims of abuse and neglect. When they talk about abuse and neglect it does not only relate to dogs on the street, it is also consider those with home. Every year a million pets (dogs and cats) suffer from mistreatment. Statistics from an animal protection organization called Milagros Caninos located in Mexico City shows that a hundred percent of the dogs they’ve given shelter to, suffered from mistreat, torture, rape and vexation. In the last decades, sociocultural factors have increased the interest at correcting this unnecessary harm to animals; citizen initiatives (partnerships and animal shelters, collecting signatures, demonstrations) and academic (preparation of briefings, discussions, articles and bibliographies) had been created towards helping the protection of animal life. In Mexico the mistreatment of dogs is one of the cruelest practices that are being common...
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...Cats and Dogs Instructor Aimee Garten February 13, 3012 Our amazing planet, Earth is home to a diverse amount of humans, insects, animals and other organism which share a common bond of directly and indirectly habitation. Americans own 73 million dogs and 90 million cats. They become best friends, soul mates, family members, and even surrogate children. Relationships with cats and dogs are some of the longest and most intimate of our lives (PBS.org 2012). The saying, “A dog is man’s best friend” may hold some truth for many, but dogs are not the only animal companion people enjoy. For many individuals, a cat is their best friend. Providing a loving home to either of these animals is a huge responsibility an owner may undertake. It’s an honor and a pleasure to possess either one. Cats and dogs are the two most popular domestic animals for companionship. Cats and dogs offer their owners different amounts of companionship and personal fulfillment. When you show them love they will unconditional return that love back. Even though cats and dogs share some of the same similarities, they are truly different in many ways. The similarities, and the differences are countless between cats and dogs, however, let’s discuss what makes them similar. First, we shall examine the similarities these two beings have in common. It’s evidently that both are of the mammal kingdom and both have hair for coating. They mutually have sharp teeth, tail, four legs, and claws. Cats and Dogs give birth...
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...animals, with three in four dogs (77% of dog population in the UK) to be obese. A clear understanding to how and why pet obesity in the UK is now a major risk factor is caused primarily by the relationship between humans and animals. A result of lack of client education of their dietary needs with the leading cause is from feeding leftovers off the plate and insufficient exercise (Sandøe et al., 2014). Obesity in dogs and cats increases the risk of health problems such as; diabetes mellitus, cardiorespiratory disease and anaesthetic...
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...animal shelters for the Hinesville area, recorded receiving approximately 30 dogs and cats each day, and 10,000 animals each year. More than four of these animals are euthanized daily, simply because the facility does not have adequate accommodations for the growing population of strays. But Liberty Humane Shelter has committed to making a change for the better to these statistics. Since 2012, the shelter has adopted out 218 cats and 325 dogs. As a “no kill” shelter which takes in animals from multiple rescues, the public, as well as the local humane society, Liberty Humane Shelter understands that animals do not deserve to die simply because they have no home. Equipped with two caged cat rooms for kittens, grown cats and one non caged room for recreation, five spacious dog rooms, and a well equipped clinic, LHS can provide a true haven to animals, both short term and long term. Every animal that is taken in is given the best medical attention available, and automatically spayed or neutered. Each animal also receives a full round of vaccinations and is implanted with a microchip. Unlike many over-populated shelters anxious to place their animals in any home, LHS carefully screens potential adopters. Adoptees are judged on their care of previous pets, the amount of time they can dedicate to a new pet, and whether the size of their house is appropriate to the needs of the pet. With the adoption of a dog, the new owners receive a full medical...
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...2013 Mr.R Cats and Dogs Cats and dogs, an argument people have been having for centuries. This tension is so bad, there’s even a stereotype that dogs and cats don’t like each other either. Conversations like, which is better? Which one can see further? Whose nose is more sensitive? Which ones cleaner? Which one is friendlier? Who can hear further? Which one is easier to take care of? These are questions people argue every day. There are two different types of people in this world, dog lovers and cat lovers, and they both think their pets are the best. But how are they so sure? One big controversy between dogs and cats, is that both species lovers believe their pet can hear, see, and smell better than the other. But who’s correct? On the category of smell, dogs can smell human fingerprints that are a week old. Their noses are so sensitive they can even smell electricity. The source of the dogs exceptional smell ability is their wet nose, which of course a cat does not have. However, even though dogs may have the upper paw on smell, cats come on top with hearing. The cat’s outer ear flap can rotate 180 degrees and works like a high tech satellite to locate extremely faint noises. Cats can also hear higher pitches than dogs, a cats range starts at 30 hertz and goes up to 60 kilohertz. However a dog’s hearing only goes up to 40 kilohertz. Cats and dogs are red-green colored blind, meaning they see various shades of yellows, whites, and blues. Dogs have superior night vision...
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